ENGLISH CORE

Code No. 301

CLASS XII

SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER-I

Time : 3 hrs.

M.M. 100

General Instructions
1.

This paper is divided into three sections : A, B and C. All the sections are
compulsory,

2.

Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.

3.

Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section A : Reading
1.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1.

Many recent international studies suggest that single-sex may be better

than co-ed after all. But the reasons are far removed from the
sociocultural factors that have bothered Indian parents all these years.
Instead, research shows that the brains of boys and girls are wired
differently, and so have different cognitive and emotional responses to
different situations. Hence, a different learning environment makes
sense.

2.

The research has been piling up over the years. It showed how students
from single-sex set-ups were more likely to proceed to college; how
girls who attend single-six schools are more likely to participate in
competitive sports than are girls at co-ed schools; and how co-ed
classrooms may be emotionally detrimental to teenaged girls. A study
of 13.000 people conducted by University of London found that those
who went to singlesex schools were more likely to study subjects not
traditionally associated with their gender. Girls from single-sex schools
137

XII English

AK

also went on to earn more than those from co-educational schools.

3.

And thus the gender differences, which have always lurked somewhere
in the minds of most teachers anyway, have now become a subject of
scientific researches, educational policies and bestsellers. At least two
booksMichael Gurians Boys and Girls Learn Differently! and Leonard
Saxs Why Gender Matters : What Parents and Teachers Need to
know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differenceshave successfully
contributed to a change of mindset and educational policy in the US.
In 2006, the Department of Education had, in fact, passed new
regulations that made it easier for districts to create single-sex
classrooms and schools.

4.

In the Indian context, of course, the situation only gets more complex.
There are, after all, a lot more factors at play here, including a
widespread social preference for male children, a lesser emphasis on
womens careers and adults are wary about the two sexes mixing. But
like elsewhere in the world, here too opinions are diverse about whether
co-ed is better or not. Obviously, we have felt that single-sex education
has great strengths.

5.

In India, many parents are not comfortable with the intermingling of

boys and girls. So if you want all girls to be educated, its better to
have some separate schools for them. One cannot be categorical
about this issue. There are schools that are coeducational that have
done extremely well. Having said that, there is a place in every
educational system for singlesex schools because there will always be
at least some students who do better in that environment, and they
should have the choice of going to such schools.

6.

Availability of this choice is what educationists and parents all over the
world emphasise. Even Sax, a family physician-turned-author who has
emerged as a champion of single-sex education in the US, has been
reported to have stressed that one size does not fit all. Our movement
is about choice, Sax, the head of the National Association for Single
Sex Public Education, told Time recently. And yet his website is full of
pages that cite how co-educational settings actually reinforce gender
stereotypes. Such a premise might actually be true in a country like
India, where society at large still perceives males as primary breadearners and women as bread-makers, where men are supposed to
lead and women expected to follow.

7.

One does see that girls get relegated to a secondary role in a co-ed
138

XII English

AK

setup. It is not a straightforward issue about girls and boys merely

being with each other. Its more important to see how a school handles
the building up of gender roles in society. In Indian government schools,
Its not uncommon to come across boys cleaning the blackboard while
girls sweep the floor or bring water. The focus should be on respectful
intermingling, rather than forceful coexistence. Bajpai too admits that
teachers in India are not sensitized towards gender difference as part
of their training in education. Given the new research, it is important
to take-stock of the findings and adjust our teaching accordingly, he
says.
8.

A.

Educationists also say that they understand that each child learns
differently, and the differences dont just have to do with the gender.
In such a scenario, experienced and sensitive teachers would
automatically find the best way to interact with and bring out the best
in, each student. Utopian expectations, some might say. For most Indian
parents though, expectations only extend as far as getting admission
in a good school, one that is not 15 km away from home.

(a) Mention the role played by the books by Michael Gurian and Leonard
Sax.
2
(b) Why is a single sex education schools preferable to co-educational
schools in India?
2
(c) What are the major roles assigned to men and women in general? 2
(d) What are the demerits of studying in a single sex education system? 2
(e) How can the teachers play a positive role in bringing out the best
qualities in both kinds of school?
1

B.

Find out the words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
(a) harmful (Para - 2)
(b) cautious (Para - 4)
(c) surviving together (Para - 7)

2.

1 3 = 3

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Brian G Dyson, former President and CEO, Coca-Cola Enterprises, once

said, Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air
namely work, family, health, friends and spirit. You will soon understand that
work is a rubber ball. If you drops it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls
family, health, friends and spiritare made of glass. If you drop one of these,
139

XII English

AK

they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered.

They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance
in your life. Industries have realised the importance of his words.
Organisations are setting up policies for maintaining a work life balance.
They are going in for innovative methods to keep their employees happy and
satisfied, as it makes office a better place to work and also positively impact
productivity.
The Concept of Work-life balance (WLB) is not a new one, but with the
changing pace of but with changing pace of life and increase in stress levels,
negatively affecting the quality of work, has made many organisations think
about the strategies for maintaining a work-life balance.
Experts say that there is a strong link between work-life balance policies
and reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and job satisfaction. Other
benefits include improved recruitment and retention rates with associated cost
savings, a reduction in employee stress, greater levels of job satisfaction. And
loyalty and an improved corporate image.
The work-life balance strategy offers a variety of ways to reduce stress
levels and increase job satisfaction of the employees. The fundamental principle
of designing activities around the topic of work-life. Companies are ready to do
everything possible to keep their employees happy and are pampering them like
never before with new policies like flexitimings, day care centers for kids, extended
maternity leave, health care centers, medical insurance, fun and games at work,
team outing, spas and gyms at office etc.
Employees tend to feel motivated when they feel that the organisation is
putting extra effort in providing a healthy, balance between work and life. Motivated
employees not only enhance the productivity but also help creating a positive
work environment at office.
Work life balance is a choice that an individual has to make. However, it is
the organisation that needs to take an initiative to help the employees. Industry
experts add that today, an employee is not looking at their employer just for
jobthey want the company to care for their work-life balance and their well being.
If a company can address these needs, in addition to providing great career
opportunities, they can be very successful in providing job satisfaction to the
employee.
Companies are adopting new means to ensure that their employees get
enough time to enjoy their personal life and Spend time with family. Certain
companies also support the policy of adopting a child by their employees. For
140

XII English

AK

this they have adoption leave policy, which allows the employees to avail eight
weeks of paid leaves to spend some quality time with their newly adopted
children.
Another recent trend is the sabbatical. Certain companies encourage
employees on completion of certain period at work to take a sabbatical for a
year to rethink and re-plan his/her career or just to take a break, relax and
rejuvenate.
Firms are going for innovative practices to keep their employees happy,
e4e a business solution providing company, promotes ROWE (Results Only
Work Environment) culture within the organisation, negating the age-old dogma
that equates physical presence with productivity and encouraging people to
focus on working smarter rather than longer. Another attempt by the company
to manage work-life balance is to encourage all employees to take a minimum
of seven days annual leave in a year. It is the responsibility of the reporting
managers or supervisors to ensure that the employees reporting to them take
this leave.
Some organisations have initiatives to provide timely assistance to the
employees in a crisis situation rising out of financial or personal problems. HEAL
(Honeywell Employee Assistance for Life issues) is the counselling service of
honeywell Technology Labs. HEAL has tied up with PPC World wide and provides
round the clock advice and counselling on all issues ranging from financial, legal
or emotional to all our employees. This service is totally confidential where the
consultant respects the privacy of the employee and treats all details and issues
as highly confidential.
At Accenture, they believe that telecommuting is one of the key tools for
attracting and retaining employees especially Women employees. Our employees
have the flexibility to exercise a need based work from home option as if helps
them more in maintaining balance between work and home. The benefits of
telecommuting include increased productivity, lower attrition, less number of
leaves taken, cost savings on infrastructure and of course an extremely happy
workforce.
Firms are not leaving it at this point. They are also evaluating the results
of these initiatives to ensure that all these initiatives have the desired impact.
Company heads talk informally with the staff to understand how they are balancing
their personal and professional lives.
(a) On the basis of reading the above passage make notes on the passage
using headings and sub headings. Use recognizable abbreviations
(minimum 4) Wherever necessary. Give suitable title to the passage. 5
141

XII English

AK

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.

Sectrion B : Advanced Writing Skills

3.

You are Rekha/Rehan, the secretary of the cultural club of Nalanda Public
School, Nagpur. Your school is organising an inter-house English Essay
Writing Competition on the topic Use of Mobile Phones - A Boon or a Bane
on the occasion of YUVA Cultural Week. Draft a notice for school NoticeBoard informing the students about the competition in 50 words.
OR
You are Gagan/Gitika of A-69, Yojna Vihar, Delhi. You have been invited to
attend the birthday party of your friends brother on 23rd Aug., 2011. Draft
in 50 words, an informal reply to the invitation regretting your inability to
attend it. 5

4.

You are Jaya/Jayant, a resident of Sarita Vihar locality. The Youth Club of
your area organised a programme for spreading awareness among the
residents regarding peace and communal harmony. Write a report on the
programme for publication in a local magazine.
10
OR
You are Akash/Akshita, a reporter in India Today. You had been enjoying
holidays in Mumbai in the month of August, when one day you saw two
cargo ships colliding which resulted in an oil spill. Write a report on ship
accident and oil spill in about 125-150 words for publication in your paper.

5.

You are Vishakha/Vishwanath, a resident of A-101, Khayala, Delhi. You feel

disturbed to read the cases of road rage daily. Write a letter to the editor
of a national daily on this issue.
OR
You are Rukmani/Rajat from C-101, Patparganj, Delhi. You purchased a
LCD, TV from Galaxy Electronics, Laxmi Nagar. After three weeks the working
of TV became faulty. Write a letter to the dealer complaining about the
problem and asking him to exchange it for new one as per terms and
conditions of the sale.
10

6.

You are Geetika/Gandharva, you feel that inspite of starting the Metro train
service, the condition of traffic on road is still worse. You find it disturbing
that the number of vehicles on roads are increasing steadily. You want
people to contribute for tackling this problem. Write an article in about 150-

142

XII English

AK

200 words on the topic Traffic Woes Solution.

OR
You are Babita/Bahadur, a student of Class XII of Sarvodaya School, Jamia
Nagar. You feel that there is need of Career Counselling throughout the
year not just for two days. You are asked to deliver a speech on Need of
Continuous Career Counselling in School. Write a speech on this topic.
10
7.

(a) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:4
The stunted, unlucky heir
of twisted bones, reciting a fathers gnarled disease,
His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,
Of squirrels game, in tree room, other than this.

Questions
(i)

Who is the unlucky heir? What will he inherit?

(ii)

Why the boy is called the stunted?

(iii) Who is sitting at the back of the dim class?

(iv) His eyes live in a dreamWhat dream does he have?

OR
Aunt Jennifers tigers prance across a screen.
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green
They do not fear the men beneath the tree
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

7.

(i)

Where do the tigers appear? What are they doing?

(ii)

Explain Bright topaz denizens of a world of green?

(iii) Name the two qualities of the tiger as shown in the extract.

(iv) Why the tigers are not afraid of the men?

(b) Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each.

(i)

What is the poets familiar ache and why does it return? (My Mother
at Sixty Six)
143

XII English

AK

(ii)

What are the things that cause suffering and pain to human beings?
(A Thing of Beauty)

(iii) What does the poet call An exotic Moment and Why? (Keeping Quiet)
8.

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each 10

(i)

What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and

where has he come from?

(ii)

Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

(iii) What does the writer mean by the fiery misery of those subjected to
make up?
(iv) What are some of the positive views on interviews?
(v) What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie
discourage her from having such dreams?
Answer the following in 125-150 words.
9.

Write a character sketch of Subbu. (Poets and Pancakes) 10

OR
Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a
turning point in his life?

10. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially
during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices.
Answer with reference to The Enemy.
OR
Why is Antarctica the place to go to understand the earths present, past
and future. 7
Answer the following question in 30-40 words each. (8 Marks)
(a) What do you infer from Sams letter to Charley?
(b) What did the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?
(c) How is Evans not a typical criminal?
(d) How was Bama influenced by the words of her brother, Annan?

144

XII English

AK

SOLUTIONS

Section B : Advanced Writing Skills

3. NOTICE
Format : include the word NOTICE, Heading, Date and Writers name with
designation. 1
Content : Suggested value points

day, date, time, venue

topic

last date for submission of names

contact person for queries (2)

Expression : Grammatical accuracy Coherence, etc. (2)

OR
Informal Reply of Denial/Refusal
Format : Address of the writer with date salutation (1)
Content : thanks for the invitation

Reason for refusal

Best wishes for the occasion

Complimentary close (2)

Expression : Grammatical accuracy, relevance and coherence. (2)

Question Paper
1.

Report Writing

Format

1 Title, reporters name, date and place

Content

Expression

* Grammatical accuracy appropriate words and spelling

* Coherence and relevant of ideas and style

145

XII English

AK

Suggested Value Points

Programme for Peace and Communal Harmony

When (Day, date, timings)

Where

activities undertaken (Exhibition, rally, etc.)

Peoples Views

Special features
OR

5.

Collision of Cargo ships causes oil spill

When (Day, date, Timings)

Where

How

Casualties

Damage to ships

Oil spill harm done to marine life

Action taken

Letter Writing

Format

Content

Expression

Grammatical accuracy appropriate words and spellings

Coherence and relevance of ideas and style

Suggested Value Points

Increasing cases of road rage

Youngsters with vehicles on road

Lack of fellow feeling

attacks and murders

damage to the vehicles

traffic jams and accidents

146

XII English

AK

counselling and seminars

Role of traffic police

Role of media and society

OR

Regarding defective TV Set

Model No., Bill No., Date of Purchase

Defects in TV set

Inability of Technician to repair it

Request for changing it.

Article/Speech Writing

Format (Title & Writers name)

Content

Expression

Suggested Value Points

Types of vehicles on road

Problem of traffic jam

Problem of road rage

Use of Public transport

Car pooling

5 days week

Advantages of reducing traffic

OR

Greetings

Common Problem faced due to lack of information

Steps to gain career related information

sources of information

benefits of career counselling throughout the year.

147

XII English

AK

Section C : Text Books

7(a)
(i)

The thin boy, having rats eyes, twisted bones from his father, old
chronic diseases.

(ii)

underdeveloped, old chronic diseases

(iii) A sweet, young boy, unnoticed.

(iv) seems hopeful, dreams of better times of outdoor games of squirrels
game.
OR
(i)

across a screen, prancing

(ii)

shining, dwellers of a forest

(iii) majestic, courageous

(iv) they are created in the panel.
7(b)
(i)

pain of ageing, separation and death she has entertained this fear
since childhood.

(ii)

malice, disappointment, unhealthy, evil ways

(iii) unusual, enticing, when there is complete silence

8.

(i)

coins, notes, valuable things, Seemapuri, Dhaka

(ii)

due to circumstances, no wife or child generous has confidence.

(iii) pain and trouble caused by heat produced by lights and mirrors.
(iv) common place of journalism, most serviceable medium of
communication.
(v) having a boutique, to be manager, an actress fashion designer /
earmarked for biscuit factory, economic conditions of Sophie not good,
Jansie planted to ground.
9.

Kothamanglam Subbu No. 2 at Gemini Studio

Officially on the rolls of story department, always with boss

cheerful, loyal, identifies himself with Principal

turned entire creativity to advantage

tailor-made for films

148

XII English

AK

poet, novelist, actor, genuine love for all

charitable, hospitable
OR

Champaran incidents,

brought economic and political solution to peasants problem.

made Britishers surrender-part of their money/prestige

infused self-reliance among Indians

Britishers could not order him in his own country

gave Gandhi self confidence

launched freedom movement throughout the country.

Human values, sensitivity, companion important

human beings rise above narrow prejudices

white man-wounded, unconscious, needed medical help

Dr. Sadao and Hana rise above difference in nations

perform duty, have right values

patriotic feeling important

killing another, because he is an enemy maker

human beings ruthless

10.

OR
Antarctica driest, coldest, windiest continent

No trees, less bio diversity,

Visual range microscopic to mighty

perfect place to study changes in environmental

holds in ice-cores, half million year old carbon records

Students on Ice programme

future generation of policy makers

ready to absorb, learn, apply.

149

XII English

AK

11. (a) letter comes in mysterious way

in oldest first day cover
mailed to grandfather
saying Sam has found the third level the imaginary world
World of fantasy, very interesting
Charley and Louisa should also try for third level
(b) married a girl of royal family
that state having a large tiger population
(c) not violent, pleasant person
One of the stars at Christmas concert
(d) deep impression
studied hard, stood first
made friends.

150

XII English

AK